Install.py May 2026

As projects grew more complex, setup.py evolved into setuptools . However, running a raw .py file for installation had risks. It executed arbitrary code on your machine with full permissions—a "long story" that often ended in broken system Python installations.

In the early days of Python, installing a library wasn't as simple as a single command. Developers relied on a module called distutils . To install a package, you would download the source code, navigate to the folder in your terminal, and run the legendary command: python setup.py install install.py

While largely deprecated for general libraries, you will still find install.py in specific, specialized corners of the tech world: As projects grew more complex, setup